Guild S-300 questions.

[noiz667]

Hey everyone. I'm looking to buy one of the Guild S-300 range and was hoping to get some advice from the experts! I've read up on them as much as I can, so I'm sorry if anything I say comes across as ignorant, but there isn't that much info available online. So here is what I'm thinking...

I would prefer a mahogany one, as I am used to SGs and similar, and that wood is more associated with the kind of music I play, (doom, stoner and sludge metal...) but what I really want to know is... How important, tonally, is the wood in the case of an S-300? The reason I ask is that there is an ash version (with the DiMarzios, the S-300 A-D) going for considerably less money right now, and it is in better condition. The only concrete, scientific difference between the two that I know of is that the ash version is heavier in weight.

I know someone who is selling an S-300D, and from what I've read, all S-300 models in mahogany have a one-piece neck. Attached is a picture of this guy's neck. I may be showing the previously mentioned ignorance now... What is that stripe down the middle? Could it be that this neck is not original to the guitar?

I have a few more questions, but I'll leave it at that and thanks for now!

 

[S100]

Hi, and welcome to the LTG.

To post a photo you will need to first upload it to a image hosting site like imgur.

Some people swear up and down about tone woods making a noticeable difference, but I've never really been able to tell when it comes to electrics. I suppose it could just be my ears, though.

 

[matsickma]

The ash body will be heavier than'hog and tone will be a little brighter. S300 necks are set. The laminate neck on the ash guitar is stock and premium design that is less likely to twist warp. The Dimarzio are classic sounding pups with the neck a PAF and bridge Super Distortion. Many Guild fans prefer the classic Guild HB1 cause it is cleaner at low volume but has punch and articulation when punched. The unique feature of the guitar, beyond its body, is the 24 fret neck. The ash model has an ebony fret board, not sure if 'hog has rosewood or ebony. Either wood or pickup model will work well for you.

 

[noiz667]

Cheers

 

[Qvart]

I had an ash S-300 and I can tell you the sound was killer. Get one with HB-1's and you'll have all the doom you need. Pretty sure the neck was maple with a mahogany stripe.

 

[Muovinen]

My personal experience of S300's is limited to one example but it just happens to be the best guitar I've ever played Mine is the ash version with HB1's but I'm not sure if the neck is ash or mahogany, I'm not an expert on wood types. It doesn't have a stripe in the middle of the neck and the board is of ebony. The sound is open and woody and it cuts through the mix very nicely. The bottom end is meaty but it never sounds muddy or harsh.

I love to show pics of it ;D

https://www.dropbox.com/sh/9x5phi7ucz0t20n/AAAVltT2r8cTAUkWDpKX_wZGa?dl=0

 

[GAD]

My personal experience of S300's is limited to one example but it just happens to be the best guitar I've ever played Mine is the ash version with HB1's but I'm not sure if the neck is ash or mahogany, I'm not an expert on wood types. It doesn't have a stripe in the middle of the neck and the board is of ebony. The sound is open and woody and it cuts through the mix very nicely. The bottom end is meaty but it never sounds muddy or harsh.

I love to show pics of it ;D

https://www.dropbox.com/sh/9x5phi7ucz0t20n/AAAVltT2r8cTAUkWDpKX_wZGa?dl=0

Please, if you ever sell that guitar, let me know.

Leave it to me in your will if you don't.

I'm BEGGING you! Damn. I need to sit down.

 

[GAD]

I've owned four or five S300s. An sS300A-D was my first serious guitar, and I have a serious soft spot for them (as may be evident by my begging above).

The one thing you should probably know is that they have smaller necks. 1 5/8" nuts, but not as thin as a 70s Starfire (at least the ones I've owned).

Ash sounds very different than 'hog. Ash is snappier, brighter, and VERY heavy.

Every S300A I've owned has had a 3-piece neck. I have never had to adjust an S300 neck. I once owned one for 25 years, and it was my only guitar from the time I was 17. I abused that guitar, and it spent many years sitting in the closet fully strung under full tension, and I still never had to adjust the neck. I've bought multiple off of eBay, and those all had perfect necks.

I've never owned a sunburst ash with HB1s like the one pictured above. I think I've only ever seen two. I want one. Badly.

Here's a pic of the neck from one of my S300A-Ds

Here's a whole guitar, you know, just because.

 

[Muovinen]

Please, if you ever sell that guitar, let me know.

Leave it to me in your will if you don't.

I'm BEGGING you! Damn. I need to sit down.

Man, you are desperate I hope to leave this to either of my sons. Older of them, 3 years old, shows some interest towards music and he has a great sense of rhythm. Can't say much about the younger one yet since he's only 4 weeks old. But I ain't selling it, that's for sure!

 

[GAD]

 

[txbumper57]

My personal experience of S300's is limited to one example but it just happens to be the best guitar I've ever played Mine is the ash version with HB1's but I'm not sure if the neck is ash or mahogany, I'm not an expert on wood types. It doesn't have a stripe in the middle of the neck and the board is of ebony. The sound is open and woody and it cuts through the mix very nicely. The bottom end is meaty but it never sounds muddy or harsh.

I love to show pics of it ;D

https://www.dropbox.com/sh/9x5phi7ucz0t20n/AAAVltT2r8cTAUkWDpKX_wZGa?dl=0

That has got to be one of the prettiest sunburst finishes I have ever seen. I love ash as a tonewood. I have 2 Ash strats that have different Sonic properties from any of my other guitars. I'll bet that S300 can go from sweet to melt the walls in no time. Nice pic!

 

[hagmeat]

Man, you are desperate I hope to leave this to either of my sons. Older of them, 3 years old, shows some interest towards music and he has a great sense of rhythm. Can't say much about the younger one yet since he's only 4 weeks old. But I ain't selling it, that's for sure!

Muovinen, Congratulations on the birth of your son.
Cheers mate
Rob

 

[noiz667]

Thanks for the replies and great pics again I ask that you excuse my ignorance... What is the functional/tonal difference between a one piece neck and one with three pieces (is it called ply?) Pros, cons? Basically, I have fallen for the shape and general layout of the guitar, it seems that it'd be perfect for me. I've mostly played SGs and Vipers for years (metal, doom, stoner, sludge, etc...) and on paper it combines the best of both, personally speaking.

 

[mavuser]

Man, you are desperate Can't say much about the younger one yet since he's only 4 weeks old!

Congrats!

 

[hagmeat]

Thanks for the replies and great pics again I ask that you excuse my ignorance... What is the functional/tonal difference between a one piece neck and one with three pieces (is it called ply?) Pros, cons? Basically, I have fallen for the shape and general layout of the guitar, it seems that it'd be perfect for me. I've mostly played SGs and Vipers for years (metal, doom, stoner, sludge, etc...) and on paper it combines the best of both, personally speaking.

Hi noiz667,

Welcome to LTG. It's nice to have another riffmeister around here. I've never played an S300 but my S90 and S100 are both mahogany with humbuckers. I reckon there is minimal sound difference between a one piece neck and a three piece neck with the skunk stripe. The biggest factors would be the pickups, your rig and the pedals you use. My S100 has the original Guild HB1's (neck 6.8k, bridge 7.1k) and the S90 has Lace Sensor Wino pickups (neck 12k, bridge 24k). I use the S100 for 70's stuff like Sabbs and Pentagram, and I use the S90 for stuff like Saint Vitus and Electric wizard. The sound from both guitars is very similar but the S90 has a lot more sustain because the output from the pickups is considerably greater. Also, the S100 sounds more natural and earthy when played clean, which is not very often.
That's my 2 bobs worth, I hope it helps.
Cheers mate.
Rob

 

[GAD]

Thanks for the replies and great pics again I ask that you excuse my ignorance... What is the functional/tonal difference between a one piece neck and one with three pieces (is it called ply?) Pros, cons? Basically, I have fallen for the shape and general layout of the guitar, it seems that it'd be perfect for me. I've mostly played SGs and Vipers for years (metal, doom, stoner, sludge, etc...) and on paper it combines the best of both, personally speaking.

I'm no luthier, but IIRC, a 3-piece neck is for stability. It can also be a way for the guitar maker to use less-expensive pieces of wood since smaller pieces are easier to find than larger pieces. I've read that a 3-piece neck might be a bit brighter because of the increased stiffness, and some people feel that a one-piece neck has more "vintage" tone.

Personally, I just each guitar on its own merits and don't fret about things like how many pieces the neck is made from.

 

[Muovinen]

Thanks guys! I've got two boys and six Guilds now - a hell of a job to even the score! ;D

What comes to neck construction it goes like GAD said; more pieces means more stability and stiffness which is often a good thing. A one piece neck might add on vibrance which could contribute to a more vintage tone but it's all very subjective. Given the genres you mentioned I wouldn't give much attention to little details like this. Your pickups, amp and pedals will have a far greater effect on your sound than any tone wood in the world. I also often use enough gain (cranked orange/marshall type of things) to blur any differences between wood types. Throw in a few OD's and fuzzes and the soup gets thick as a brick wall ;D

In the end I only have one advice for you: if you have a chance to buy that S300 BUY IT!

 

[Zelja]

Thanks guys! I've got two boys and six Guilds now - a hell of a job to even the score!

That's a good ratio there if you can keep it up or improve upon it - 3 Guilds to every boy. Wouldn't go lower than that. Congrats on the young family & the collection.

Your S-300 is the most attractive one I have ever seen - that sunburst colour scheme over ash really suits the model. Love it.

 

[GAD]

That's a good ratio there if you can keep it up or improve upon it - 3 Guilds to every boy. Wouldn't go lower than that.

Seriously! I mean, who knows what could happen! Better safe than sorry.

 

[noiz667]

Thanks again, do any of you know if the mahogany version was also made with a 3-piece neck or if it was just the ash version, or any history on this at all?